By Joe Murphy
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard will be replaced for the rest of the race weekend in Jeddah by the team’s 18-year-old British reserve driver Oliver Bearman, the team have confirmed. The young driver makes his F1 debut and will be in qualifying later today, without having had any practice.
Sainz had been unwell for two days, saying Thursday practice was “one of my toughest days in a Formula 1 car.” At first, he thought it was just an illness but it turns out he will actually require emergency surgery whilst out in the Middle East.
Bearman was in Jeddah competing in the Formula 2 championship and had taken pole position for the feature race in qualifying on Thursday, so he is used to the track in some form or another.
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